Ethambutol (EMB, E) is a medication primarily used to treat tuberculosis.[1] It is usually given in combination with other tuberculosis medications, such as isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide.[2] It may also be used to treat Mycobacterium avium complex, and Mycobacterium kansasii.[1] See also Ethambutol.
Ethambutol is bacteriostatic against actively growing TB bacilli. It works by obstructing the formation of cell wall. Mycolic acids attach to the 5'-hydroxyl groups of D-arabinose residues of arabinogalactan and form mycolyl-arabinogalactan-peptidoglycan complex in the cell wall. It disrupts arabinogalactan synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme arabinosyl transferase. Disruption of the arabinogalactan synthesis inhibits the formation of this complex and leads to increased permeability of the cell wall.
(7bvf).
